Safety appliance for acetylene-generators.



I. HARRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915. n

Patented Feb. 5, 1918;

[7L/Einw@ il?" A 1. HARRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. |915- Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

a sHETs-sHET 2 J.. HARRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATIQM man MAR. 22. m5.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- alvw/ @HV/U5 Ft/TM5.

JOHN HARRIS, OFCLEVELMD, OHIO.

SAFETY APFLIANCE FOR AClETYlLENE-GENERATOEQS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.. 5, 191%..

@riginal application filed October 12, 1914, Serial No. 866,194. Dividedand this application tiled March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,161.

of Ohio, have invented a certain new and' useful Improvement in SafetyAppliances for Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l v I This inventionrelates to apparatus for generating acetylene-gas of high pressure, suchas is used with blow pipes for so called autogenous welding, vtheapparatus shown and described herein being of the type disclosed in myco-pending application, Serial No. 866,194, filed October, 12th, 1914,of which this application is a division.

My present invention relates more particu.

larly'to safety appliances for use with gas generators, and it has forits object to provide means whereby apparatus of the aforesaid'character are rendered absolutely safe and reliable, the meanscomprising certain safe guards which compel the .operator to vent thegenerator when it is opened for the purposes of draining it, or ofsupplying it with water or carbid.

A further object of the invention is the provision of' safety appliancesfor attaining this end, that are comparatively simple o f construction,easy of operation, andpositive of'action.

ln general terms it may be stated that the invention consists ofmechanism for carrying out the above objects, embodying vthe features ofconstruction, combinations of elements, Vand arrangement of parts havingthe general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter fullydescribed vand claimed in this s eciication, and shown in the ac-ycompanying drawing, in, which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gasgenerator equipped with the safety appliances-of my invention. Figs. 2and 3 are fragmentary side elevation of the generator shown inI Fig. 1,-the first of the vfigures showing the parts in the positions theyoccupied when the generator is. closed 4and the second, showing theappliancesl in inedective position, so that the filling valve,'fthesludge valve, and carbid-hopper coverfjmay be opened; -v Fig. 4 isaperspective view of-the top of the generator, with vthe parts in theposition shown in Fig. 32,-Fig. 5 is a plan of the y of the links 8, andis carbid hopper, and the parts connected thereto; Figs. 6 and 7 arecentral vertical sections of the vent valve, the planes of therespective sections being substantially at right angles to each other;and Fig. .8 is a perspective view of certain parts of the weight motorwhereby the carbid 'feeding mechanism is operated.

Taking u a detailed description of the invention by the use of referencecharacters, 1 represents the generating chamber of the apparatus abovewhich is supported,

upon a neck 2, a carbid hopper 3. The fillf ing opening of the hopper 3is adapted-to be closed by a cover 4 that is clamped to the opening bymeans of-a screw 5 which is threaded through a yoke 6, the ends whereofarepivoted to the-hopper on opposite sides of the filling opening. Thisis in accordance withl the usual method of closing receptacles of thiskind, and as a safeguard against the same being opened except when the papparatus is in proper condltion to permit of such an act, a shield 7 isprovidedv to-protect these parts, the same being supported by Aasuitable number of links 8, 8, which are arranged to be swung, by themovement of a plate 9, from the position shown in Fig. 2, to thatillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, i

tion between the links 8 andv l2 being in' turn connected to the. end ofthe plate 9 by means of a link 13. Because. of this con.- struction,when the pivotal point of the links 12 and 8 is swun backward, saidlinks are thrown downwar to substantially the plane of the upper endsofthe ears 16' and l11,'-and the shield 7 is tilted on edge, as shown inFigs. Band 4, V v f` `Arod 14 extends from Vone to the other located soas to' engage said links are, pivoted directly tothe ed es of the openside of the shield and limit t e swin movement of the shield `with resect' to the 'nks. i. p

he lower end of the plate 9 is pivoted lllO tothe end of an arm that isjournaled between the ears 16, which project from the side of the hopper3. The arm 15 has also pivoted to it a rod 17 which extends down infront of the apparatus and has its lower en'd attached to the operatinghandle 18, of a lling valve 19. It will be noted that the upper end ofthe handle 18 is of segmental formation, the are of the segmentalportion 20 being concentric 'with the stem 21 of the valve, whereon thearm is fastened. It will be stated that when the handle 18 is in theposition shown in Fig. 2f, the valve 19'is closed; but when the handleis swung upward through" substantially 45, `as in Fig. 3, the valve isopen. n

The valve 19 has connection with the generating chamber of theapparatus, through the nipple 22 and elbow '23; and at its upper -endthe-valve has connection, through the nipple 24, with awater fillingreceptacle and water level indicator 25. An overflow pipe 26 isconnected to the vside of the filling receptacle at an elevationcorresponding to the high water level of the generator, indicated bythelines a. Therefore, whenthe valve 19 -is open,fgthe generatingchamber may-be filled by introducing waterintothe receptacle 25,`by theuse of a hose or other suitable means,'until the water within thereceptacle 25 attains the elevation of its overflow, when it will beknown that the level within the generator has reached its maximumheight.

A sludge valve y28 is applied to the generating chamber 1', near itsbottom, below the operating'handle 18; and the gate 29 of the sludgevalve has connection with said handle, by means of the yoke 30vand therod 31, which telescopes within a tube 32 that is pivoted to theoperating handle. The length of the rod 31 is such as will cause itsupper end to abut .theupper end of the tube 32, when the gate' v290i thesludge valve is closed and thebperating handle 18 is down; and thelength of the tube 32 is such as will prevent vits withdrawal from .therod 31 when the operating handle 18 is elevated.

Froml the description thus far it will be seen that neither the cover ofthe lcarbid hopper canbe removed, nor the sludge valve opened, untilthejoperating lever 18 of the filling valve 19 has been elevated andthe` valve opened. However, it is essential that 4the.apparatus beexhausted, prior to the openingvof the.v valve.19, and mechanism forpreventingthe operation of this valve vuntil the apparatus has beenexhausted, will be descri ed presently.

I vwill nextdescribe the valve that is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7,whereby the apparatustis vented in case the pressure therein exceeds apredetermined point, and through \which the apparatus is exhausted priorto each operation ofthe filling valve 19. It

tension ofthe sprin will be observed from the aforesaid Figs. 6 and 7,that the vent valve comprises upper and lower casing members 35 and 36,the adjacent edges of which are each provided with a horizontal flange'37 and 38, respectively. Between these flanges is securely clamped theperiphery of a flexible diaphragm 39. The casing member 35 con vergestoward its upper end and terminates in a cylindrical neck 40 which hasapplied to it a cap 41, and threaded within the neck, and adapted tobecovered by the cap 41, is a spring casing 42, against the top wall ofwhich bears the upper end of a coil spring 43. The lower end of thisspring surrounds a shank 44 of a yoke 45 that is formed inte gral with adisk 46, from the underneath side of which depends a central stud 47. Bymeans of the stud 47 and the nut 48 applied thereto, there is clamped tothe disk 46, plate 49, diaphragm 39, and a valve member 50, having anannular pliable contact portion 51, preferably of rubber. The contactportion of the valve member is arranged to engage a seat 52 ofcorresponding shape, which is located centrally within the lower casingmember 36, and is preferably formed by'the upper end of an internaltubular extension which rojects from one side of the casing, and withwhich extension is connected the vent pipe 53.

The valve member 50 may be caused to bear upon its seat 52, at anydesired pressure, suchA pressure being obtained by varying the 43 .whichis accomplished through the a justment of the casing 42, that isthreaded into the upper end of the neck 40, said casing 42 beingprovided with a portion 55 for the application of a wrench or othertool. The lower end of the casing member 36 terminates in an internallyrthreaded boss 56 that has connection, through the pipe 57, with thegenerating chamber 1. Now, therefore, `when the pressure within thegenerating chamber exceeds that of the,

Extending through the yoke 45 is an ec centric 60 upon the shaftr61,journaled in the opposed walls of theupper casing member 35, the samebeing provided with a suitable packing gland 62 where it t passesthrough the wall of said casing member.

Applied 'tothe end of the shaft 61, beyond vthe packing gland 62, 1s anarm 63 which has its free end connected, by the link 64,

ltoa lever 65 that is journaled at 66 to a lug' 67 projecting from thefront of the generating chamber 1. This lever carries a 'Segment 68, thecurved face of which is concentric with the pivot 66, and which has aradius equal to the distance between said pivot and the forward end ofthe handle 18 Larnaca handle as to cause the segment of the lever- 65,and the segmental portion of the said handle to be in substantially thesame plane. llt may be stated, also, that the length of the arckof thesegmental portion of the `valve handle is such as will cause itsperiphery to just escape .oneend of the segment 68 when the'lever 65 isvertical. Therefore, thehandle 18 can be operatedonlyvwhen the lever 65is in its extreme upper position, and the lever '65 can be operated onlywhen the handle 18 is in its extreme lower position. It is obvious fromthis that the valve 19 t cannot'be opened forl the purpose of supplyingwater to the generating chamber, nor can the sludge valve be opened, northe cover of the carbidhopper removed,'until the lever '65 has beenelevated to operate the valve andvent the apparatus, y

lf, through any cause, the pressure within the apparatus becomes.excessive and proi duces a condition which may be considered dangerous,the Vdiaphragm 39 will be elevated to remove the' valve 50 from its seat52 and allow' the excess gas to escape through the vent pipe 53, whichleads to ther exterior of the building. As ,previously pointed; out, thevent valve may be regulated to-reslst varyingdegrees of pressure throughthe adjustment of the spring 43, in actual practice, the spring beingadjusted 'to li'fteenpounds pressure, as required .by in-vv surancecompanies.

the upper-'portions of thecasing would be led o through abranch pipe,whichjoins the main vent pipe 53. i

Having thus described ff my invention` 1. rlhe combination. withvapparatus comi" prising a-generating chamberhaving a 'filling valve,the lling valve having an operating handley `that'is provided with lanabutment, of a member lmovable into. and

out of the-path of said abutinent,Yfallvent;` valve for the apparatus,that is'subjiectedfto, .l and adapted to` be opened normally gasypressure within the generating chamber, andr connections between theaforesaid movable memberV and' saidlcvent valve. vvvhereby thev 551'movement of the member 4out .of the path [of the aforesaid abutmentwillzopen 'said'vent `the handle of shield for the coverof .the `carbidhopper,

abutment, of a member movable into and out of the path of sald abutment,said member,

when in the path of theabutment, prevent- Yi v the combinationwithtliejeoverv of `the carbid .f y

,the v'lling valve'having an tdt ing the opening of the filling valve, avent valve for the apparatus, that is subjected to land adapted to beopened normally by gas pressure Within the generating chamber, con-ynections. between the operating handle of the filling valve and theaforesaid shield whereby said shield cannot-be moved from eHectiveposition when said valve is closed, and further connections between theaforesaid movable member and the vent valve whereby-the movement of theformer out of the path of the aforesaid abutment will open said ventvalve. 1

3. The combination with apparatus comprising a generating chamber havingla lling valve, said iillin Valve' having a handle that is provided withan abutment, of a member movable into and out of the path path of theabutment preventing the opening of the lillingvalve, a vent valve forthe yapparatus that is adapted to be operated normally by the pressurewithin said apparatus, means tendlng to seat said valve, connectionsbetween the aforesaid movable inem berand saidv vent valve whereby themovement offtheformer out of the path of the aforesaid abutment willopen said vent valve, carbid feeding mechanism, ,al motor for `operatingsaid mechanism, a lo'clr for saidmotor, means tendin to hold the lock inenective position, an connectionsbetween saidlock andthe aforesaidmovable member whereby the movement of said memt g ber into the path ofthe aforesaid abutment ln o the d1aphra-I SQA-becomes -fraetured, thegas vwhich would thus escape into will yunlock the motor. dfllnapparatus ofthe character set forth,

.y thecombination Withthe cover of the c'arbid hopper and the securingmoans therefor, ofk `agshield which covers said securing means l andextends downward entirely therearound,

alpair of links having their upper ends fpivoted to theshield atdiametrically opposite points and their lower ends pivotally connectedto the hopper alongsidethe cover v 11e the respective upper and lowerpii'rotallf points ofthe links being inaxial alinement, a link ofsubstantially the samel length as 1p Vthe aforesaid links which has itsupper end ivoted tov the lshield adjacent -one of'- the ormer links, alshorter linl: connecting the lowerifpivotal point of saidformer link to'4 the-cfrresponding end of the last mentioned 1 dmeansfforswinging'rfthe shorter naapparatus of thecharacter set forth, i

-A hopper. and fthe-securing means`,therefor, of 1 ,ar shi'e'aldA which'covers said securm'g means@ and extends `do'wnvvard entirelytherearound, #125 i Y. connected to the hopper alongside-t e cover,pivoted' the respective upper 'and lowerA points of the links being inaxial alinement, a link of substantially the same length as theaforesaid links which has its upper end pivoted to the shield adjacentone of the former links, a shorter'flink connecting the lower pivotalpoint of said former link to the corresponding end of the last mentionedlink, an abutment carried by and between the first mentioned pair oflinks and arranged to engage the edge of ythe shield when the samevismoved to ineective position, and means for swinging the shorter link.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of agenerating chamber having a filling valve, the filling valve having arotatable operating handle, a segmental `member rigid with said handleand having a peripheralI portion concentric with the axisof rotation ofsaid handle, a second segmental member rotatable in they plane of thefirst segmental member and having a peripheral portion concentric-withits axis of` rotation, they combinedl radii Aof the segmental membersbeing greater than the distance between their axes ofrotation, saidmembers being so arranged that one may v `swing'past the end of theotherfonly when Copies of this patent mayl ha obtained for the other isin normal position, a vent valve for the apparatus that is subJected toand adapted to be openedv normally by gas pressure within the generatingchamber, and connections between the second mentioned segmental memberand said vent valve whereby the movement of said segmental member out ofthe path of the first mentioned segmental member will open said ventvalve.

7. The combination with a gas generating system, of means whereby thesystem may be opened, a device normally blocking the operation. of saidmeans and movable from blocking position, a vent valve constantlysubjected to the pressure within a system and capable of being actuatedby excessive pressure therein, and connections between said device andvalve whereby the movement of said device from blocking position willeffect an actuation of the valve.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto aliix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

J OHN HARRIS.

Witnesses:

BRENNAN B. WEsr, HUGH B. MCGILL.

' Washingtqm. C."

